Catholic Faith

I was baptized Catholic at St. Basil’s Church, 50 St. Joseph Street, Toronto on August 16, 1953. But I was never a practicing one. My life’s journey took me down the Protestant path instead.

I don’t think that this has made any difference to my life, but sometimes I wonder.

The above pendant was given to me by a good friend in 1987, just before I flew back to Canada for a visit. She wanted me to be ‘safe’. However, the written words on the back tell of a different purpose to this keepsake.

Prayer to Saint Joseph

Joseph, like the people of your time, and like us today, you were familiar with doubt, worry, anguish and suffering. Your desire was to be attentive to the manifestation of God’s will. Help us to identify how we can best overcome our difficulties…

Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never has it been known that anyone who asked for your help and sought your intercession was left unaided…

Talisman

The point of the exercise may have been to direct my attention to the fact that I could ask for help. As a Protestant, I have never been afraid to pray for help from God, through Jesus Christ’s name. And I have been ‘protected’ by a Guardian Angel since I was “knee-high to a grasshopper”.

In fact, the saint for whom I was named, Christopher, may be my real protector.

In 2007, I had a minor car accident. It happened on a newly wet road out of Totnes, after a successful interview with the company Auto Trader. I was on my way back to the temporary job I had in Kingsteinton, and the car in front spun around the full 360°. To avoid hitting it, I turned my Fiesta toward the side of the road, which unfortunately was slightly banked. It turned my car over onto the driver’s side.

I only had a couple of minor cuts on my right arm when the window smashed, but other than that, nothing too catastrophic.

However, this was the same day that I was to take possession of a new flat in Torquay, in order to move out of a home I shared with Dianne.

Saint Christopher Medal

Almost exactly one month later, Susan contacted me through Classmates.com. When she heard that I was to come back to Canada for a visit in August to meet my ‘birth’ family for the first time, she sent me a medal for my safe journey.

I have been wearing it ever since, and keeping within the speed limit…

Thank you, Susan.